From the pocket of his jeans, he pulled a stack of pictures of Beyoncé, carefully unfolded them, and placed them on the table for everyone to see. Then, Adebiyi Adekola opened his flannel shirt to reveal the Beyoncé T-shirt underneath. He was on his way to request a song — Beyoncé, of course — when DJ John Thorp beat him to the punch.
As "Put a Ring on It" blared from the speakers, Adekola flashed Thorp a smile, then cut loose on the dance floor at Banquets of Minnesota in Fridley.
Adekola is one of the many regulars at Our Dance Place, a nonprofit that provides get-togethers for people with special needs. On a recent weeknight, he shared the dance floor with people in their late teens to middle age, who grooved in high heels and Crocs, walkers and wheelchairs.
Those who have trouble speaking were just as welcome as those who have trouble walking. Avid dancers and belt-it-out singers mingled with a few quiet types, who nodded to the music but didn't get up to dance. Caretakers and parents were in attendance, too. The festive mood was just right for the people with physical and developmental difficulties who came to dance, mingle and enjoy a couple of hours of unstructured fun in a supportive environment.
"The world can be a cruel place," said Helen Jorgensen, a part-time caretaker. "This is one of those few places individuals can feel safe and socialize."
John Thorp and Michael Wines created Our Dance Place last February, starting with Monday nights in Fridley. Within months, they added dances in Blaine on Tuesdays and Forest Lake on Wednesdays.
"We entertain about 800 people a week," said Wines, an interior designer and retired paraprofessional for special-needs students.
While there are state-funded programs to help disabled people find jobs and housing, there is little funding and few organizations to cater to their social needs.